The Power of DOUBT

When agreeing for the sake of agreeing is just not right.*

Let’s blame it all on social media, on fake news, and power-wielding politicians.

It’s so much easier, isn’t it?

The fact is, we’ve forgotten how to question anything and everything.

Too much is taken for granted. Those words of wisdom cannot be false—because a wise man said them.

A while back, when Fogy was still trying to grasp the advanced nature of education, he happened upon the works of Socrates and Plato and marvelled at the scope of their thinking. Some time later, however, Fogy recognised that much of what had seemed far-reaching and profound was actually limited to the Athenian culture and the borders they inhabited.

This is when DOUBT set in. How could these words of wisdom be accepted as the exclusive truth?

In later years, philosophers became better travelled—exposed to new cultures, ideas, and contradictions—and concepts such as these widened greatly in scope. From the Renaissance to the Enlightenment, the intellectual lens gradually broadened.

And yet, even today, taking each and every revered work at face value remains a risky way to develop an understanding of the world around us.

Several times now, I have mentioned critical thinking—the art of looking into anything and questioning whether what is stated is truly right.

Is this The Power of Why?

No. Similar, but subtly different. We are not interested as much in the method or the reason for something, but more the reasoning and the truth behind something.

“I doubt you have ever travelled to the South Pole” is a legitimate doubt.

And doubting even the simplest statement, article, news report or academic work is where true critical thinking skills kick in.

The purported truths presented in publication are more often than not just the perspective of the writer or writers. Even presenters can alter this perspective in the way they read the text, the emphasis they place on words and facts—and when seen, their own expressions and postures are designed to further their own positions.

So doubt is fundamental. Always question what is presented to us with a modicum of doubt. Believing is a personal—and, sorry to say, a lazy—choice for many. When something appears to be too complex, the “accept it without question” gene steps in. It changes nothing in my life, so why bother.

Oh, and by the way. This is not a support of conspiracy theories. These too must be taken with a heap-load of DOUBT. But they do represent the makings of critical thinking and must be analysed and understood just as much as the so-called normal sources. There are some underlying gems—and sometimes truths—behind such theories.

The conclusion here must be: do not take everything at face value. Be prepared to think through what you have been instructed to do. If inconsistent, then voice your doubts. Be aware that your own doubts will trigger deeper analysis of your own points. Your reputation and legitimacy depend very much on how carefully you express these doubts. Moderation is the key. Understand what doubts are important, and when they need to be expressed.

What we read and see and hear needs constant analysis. We have the tools—and a much wider world view than the ancient philosophers—so our own determination of what we want to believe should be easier. Unless, of course, we consider being overloaded with too many options and too much data.

Be true to yourself.

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